McDaniel Named to Thorpe Award Watch List

Aug. 3, 2010

CLEMSON, SC- Clemson senior safety DeAndre McDaniel has been named to the Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list for the 2010 season. McDaniel was an addition to the award’s semifinal list last November when he was a first-team All-American by the Football Writers Association.

The native of Tallahassee, FL is one of six ACC players on the watch list. The others are Kendric Burney of North Carolina, Rashad Carmichael of Virginia Tech, Ras-1 Dowling of Virginia, Brandon Harris of Miami, and Deunta Williams of North Carolina.

McDaniel ranked in a tie for third in the nation in interceptions last year when he had eight, the top figure in the ACC. It also tied a Clemson single season record. He also had 102 tackles to become the first Clemson player in history with eight interceptions and at least 100 tackles in the same season.

Earlier this summer, McDaniel was named a first-team preseason All-American by Sporting News, Athlon, Phil Steele and Playboy. He received more votes for the official preseason All-ACC team than any other player.